UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.28.08

Bush to announce earmark changes tonight.

President Bush is expected to announce big changes tonight in the way lawmakers earmark money for their own special projects. Bush will deliver his last State of the Union address as president this evening to the nation. He'll reportedly sign an executive order tomorrow that says Congress should debate spending items in the open and hold a public vote. Besides the issue of earmarks, the President is expected to talk about Iraq, the economy, permanent extensions of his tax cuts and free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama.

Lebanon is declaring a day of mourning today after eight people were killed overnight in anti-government rioting. Dozens of others were wounded. The violence happened in Beirut's mostly Shi'ite southern suburbs. Demonstrators reportedly took to the streets, setting fire to vehicles, to protest cuts in electricity. However, Lebanon's pro-Western government accuses protestors of deliberately trying to create violence.

Five U.S. soldiers are dead following a roadside bomb attack in Iraq. Today's incident in the northern city of Mosul was one of the deadliest attacks against U.S. troops in months. The U.S. military says Al Qaeda has regrouped in northern provinces after being driven away from western areas like Anbar and from around Baghdad during security crackdowns.

Senator Edward Kennedy will endorse Senator Barack Obama for president. Kennedy reportedly intends to announce his support for the Illinois senator later today. His niece, Caroline Kennedy, who's daughter of the late president, has already endorsed Obama. She wrote in the New York Times saying the first-time senator seems to be able to inspire people the way her father did a half century ago.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.25.08

Egpyt closes off parts of border to Gaza.

Egypt is now sealing off parts of its border with Gaza. That's after tens of thousands of Palestinians have crossed back and forth with little interference for the past two days. Earlier this week, Palestinians breached a border crossing, allowing them to get supplies since Israel sealed its border with Gaza a week ago. Egyptian soldiers in riot gear formed a human chain today while other soldiers rolled out barbed wire. The U.S. and Israel have been pressuring the country to close open border areas because they're worried that terrorists with weapons could travel undetected from Egypt into the Palestinian territory.

Washington leaders have agreed on a stimulus plan to give American taxpayers rebates of $600 or more, but people may not see that money for a while. Government officials say it could be May or June before Americans get any real cash. That's because the IRS has to cut the checks, and the agency is now in the middle of the '07 tax-filing season. However, nothing can get started until the bill is passed by the House and Senate. Congressional leaders say they hope to have legislation on the President's desk by the middle of next month.

Democrat Dennis Kucinich is reportedly dropping out of the presidential race. The congressman from Cleveland told a newspaper yesterday that he would make his withdrawal announcement today. The 61 year old has been an outspoken Iraq war critic who's consistently voted against funding the war and led anti-war efforts in Congress. Kucinich has said he won't endorse another candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

An explosion in Beirut today has killed four people, including Lebanon's top anti-terror investigating officer. The attack, which wounded 38 others, happened in a Christian neighborhood northeast of the capital. Violence has escalated in Lebanon as pro and anti-Syrian lawmakers in parliament are locked in a battle to elect a president. The country has been without a leader since November when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud (a-meel la-hood) stepped down at the end of his term.